Hydraulic clutch



Filed Aug. s. 193,5

UNT

April 12 1927.

A. H. MANWARING HYDRAULIC CLUTCH Patented Apr. 12, `1927.

UNITED s'IATEsI ALBERT H. `MANWARING?, 0F NOBLE, PENNSYLVANIA. y

HYDRAULiC cLUTonf Application filed August 3, `1925. Serial No. 47,8871.`

draulic clutch of the type covered by my Patent No. 1,485,987 datedMarch 4,1924. Thel principal object. of the vpresent inventionv is to provide a hydraulic clutch of this general type which issimpler in constructionv and more efficientin operation. This object I attain by means of improved mechanism which will `be described in ydet-ail. Further objects of the invention will-be apparent from the followinof specifications and claims. v v f yIn the drawings, I have shown the embodiment of the invention which I now deem preferable, but it will be understood that the drawings are for illustrative purposes only, and Athat various changesl andsubstitutions may be made within the scope of theclaims without kdeparting from the spirit of the 1nvention.`

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1, is a longitudinal sectional View showing a clutch and associated parts embodying the invention. i Fig. 2, is an enlarged `longitudinal sectional view Fig. 8, is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken along the line 3*.8 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, it will be understood that` I provide driving and driven members which are rotatable about a common axis'. The driving member, as shown, comprises several parts, such as the shaft 1 adapted to ybe connectedl with a motor or other source of power, a fly wheel 2, a detachable coupling 3, a flange 4 connected with the. coupling, a shell 5 and a head 6,

The three members4, 5 and6 taken together constitute a casing adapted to contain oil or other liquid for apurpose to be described. The head 6 is `provided 'with filling openings normally closed by plugs 6a, 6al as `shown lin Fig. 1, I preferably provide ball f bers as shown.

shown.

The kdriven member comprises a shaft 7 which extends'into the casing. Orione of the members, that is on the driving member or onthe driven member I provide anec- Centric 8. As shown this eccentric is on the driven shaft 7 preferably being located near the flange -4 of the casing. As most clearly bearings 9 and lO'inter osed between the s P parts'of the driving and the driven mem- The vpresent inventionrelates to a hyi taken along the line 2 2 of Fig.

`tively'connected with the driven member.

For operatively connecting the driving member with the driven member, I providev at least one, and preferably twoor more, plunger mechanisms or pumps. In' the drawings, I have shown two such plunger as required. The two plunger mechanisms, and also the parts immediately associated therewith, are identical in construction and, therefore, a description of one. willsufficev for both. A As shown Amore clearly in Figs. 2.and 8, each plunger` mechanism comprises a cylinder 12 and a piston 13 slidable therein. Either the cylinder or thepiston is pivotally connected to the driving member for movement about an eccentric longitudinal pivotal axis, and -I prefer and have shown thecylinder so connected. As illustrated t-he cylinder 12 is provided with trunnions 14 and 15 which are seated in bearing apertures in lugs 16 and 17 projecting inward from a detachable spider 18 mounted in the surface ofthe casing member 5. In orderto facilitate assembly thelug 17 is removable, being held in place by screws 17a. -The other memberof the plungermechanism, in this case the piston l18, is opera- For this purpose, I prefer and have shown aneccentric ring-18a surrounding the aforementioned eccentric 8 and carrying a longitudinal pivot pin 19. The piston 13 is extended and providedl with an aperture through which the pin 19 extends. Preferablylin order to reduce friction' to a miniv mum a roller bearing 20 is interposed between the eccentric 8 and the 4eccentric ring 18a.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that, when the driving member is rotated independently of the drivenmember` the eccentric ring 18a will be `made to rotate on the eccentric, `thus causing the axis of 100 ton 13y to reciprocate in the cylinder 12.; In order tok sup-port and guide the pin 19 in its relative .movement with res ect to thev casing I provide at least one gui e, 1 and preferably two such guides, adapted to ccu- 11 6o mechanisms oppositely disposed, but it will Y g be understood that the number can be varied This relative circular movement of the pin 19 causes the pis- 105 tinously support the pin throughout its entire path of movement. As the path of relative movement is circular, the guides are circular being in the form of cylindrical apertures formed in lugs 2l, 21 projecting inward from the spider 18. Preferably in order to reduce friction to a minimum roll-ers 22, 22 are mounted on the pin 19 at opposite sides of the piston andthe internal diameter of the guides 21 is made such that they are continuously in engagement with the rollers.

' Tn order to enable the plunger mechanism to transmit power from one member to the other, Aa suitable amount of oil or 'other liquid is placed in the casing and a suit-able valve mechanism is provided for cont-rolling the flow of the liquid from the casing into the cylinder or from the cylinder back into the casing. This valve is in the form of an automatic ball check valve 23 which is so arranged that it` permitsthe oil or other liquid to enter the cylinder, but prevent-s, or at least retards, the discharge of oil from the cylinder. It will be apparent that with the check valve in operation the relative movement of the piston and cylinder would cause the cylinder to be filled with oil. However, the check valve would prevent or retard the discharge ofthe oil, and would thus cause the driven member to be rotated by the driving member.

The check valve 23 is preferably constructed to entirely prevent the outward flow of liquid, and in order that there may be an adjustable amount of outward flow l provide a second manually operatable valve 2li. This valve 24 is preferably cylindrical in form, and is mounted in a longitudinal aperture 25 extending through the trunnions 1l and 15 and communicating with the interior of the cylinder 12. The aperture 25 is provided with an annular recess 26 and the end of the valve 24 is tapered as shown. The result is :that with the'valve in the position shown in Fig. 2 the flow of liquid is entirely cutoff. By moving the valve toward the left the tapered portion thereof comes opposite the edge of the recess 26 and a space for the passage lof oil is provided, the crosssectional area of this space varying with the longitudinal ,adjustment of the valve. The check valve 28, already referred to, is

most conveniently located in an aperture driven member can be controlled by moving the collar 31 and thus moving the valves 24e, With the parts in the position shown the pistons will be immediately filled with oil as already described and the check valves 2S will prevent their being emptied. Thus the two members are connected together practically directly and will rotate at or about the same speed. However, if the valves 2e be moved slightly 4to the left a slowI discharge of oil will be permitted from the cylinders and the driven member will rotate at a slightly less speed than the driving member. By reference to Fig. 3, it will be seen that two plunger mechanisms are oppositely arranged so that one of them is being filled while the other is being emptied.

Thus a practically continuous torque is obtained. By moving the valves further toward the left the speed of the driven member can be further reduced until the valves reach 4their eXtreme left-hand positions where the driven member stops, the pistonsv simply working back and forth freely in the cylinders.

As a safety device to prevent damage to the mechanism through the application of a load too suddenly, or through the application of too great a load, I provide an auxiliary relief valve which will relieve excess pressure in the cylinders. Preferably Iprovide for this purpose a ball check valve 33 which is located in the piston, and arranged to discharge through ports B-l at the outer end thereof. This valve 'is provided with a spring' 35 which is sufficiently powerful to hold the valve closed except under emergency conditions.

Any usual or preferred means may be used for moving the collar v31, but when the clutch isto be used on an automobile, I prefer to provide a foot-pedal `36 which is pivoted on a transverse shaft 37. A link 38 is pivoted to an arm 36 on the shaft 37' and is also connected with an arm 39secured to a transverse shaft 40. Connected with the :arm is a forked yoke ttl having pins 4t2 which enter an annular groove 43 formed in the collar '31. lt will be seen that when the pedal 36 is depressed the yoke l1 and the collar 31 vwill be moved toward the left, thus moving the valves 2li toward the left lto slow down or stop .the rotation of the driven member. i

Preferably I provide means to prev-ent the sudden movement 4of the valves 24 to closed position as this would cause the load to be picked up suddenly yand would subject the entire mechanism to undue strains. To this end T provide a lost-motion connection be.- tween the lower end of the link .38 and the arm 39. Thus the operator, by means of the pedal, can move they arm 39 and the yoke 4l in the counter-clockwise direction, but is unable to move them in the clockwise direc- Y .'I ,have shown my "clutch as forminga part of anfautom'obile vcollarl 31 tovvard the right but also serves to normallyh'old the pedal in itsuppenposition;v l`It 7Will 'be obvious that the spriii`g4-4 canv move' the collar 31 only tothe extent permitted byl the position of the'pedal 36, andthat theoperatorby moving the pedal to an intermediate -position `can permit the spring to move lthe valves 24 .tov an in`termediate position. i

"Inorder'to prevent the'spring 44 from moving the valves, too rapidly, I providea dash-pot -mechanism4`5, shown in Fig. 2. This mechanismco'mprises a piston 46 which is ii'ivable inalcylinder 4T.' A piston rod 48i's'rc`onn'ected 4With'anarm 49 on theshaft 40. "A ley-pass 50 is provided between the tivend'softhe piston 47 ,this by-pass containing' a -ball check valve Whi'chpermits th'ejpisto'ii`46fto move freely in the downvivardfdirection ywhen the'valves 24 are being opened,'but lit' retards' ,the movement of the piston 46 y'inthe upvvard direction when the va-lve`s'24 yare being'VV closed. In order that movement intheupvva'rd direction may take place'at A'a suitable speed a second by-.pass 52'ifspro'vided, which has an adjusting screw 53 permitting 'a limitedamountV ofv leakage pastthevalve 51. A plug Afff-is,provided to permit the introduction of oil into the dashvpot mechanism; j

improved hydraulic drive mechanism. The clutch proper is` enclosed in a casing `54, andat the rear-end of 'the casing is a ksuitable ,reversing gearing.

As illustrated the rear end of the shaft V7 carriesla gear 55 which meshes With agear 56'` rotatable on a longitudinal bearing pin 57. Connected With thegear 56 is a-.pinion -58v Whichmeshes with anidler gear. 59. A

shaft -60is=mounted inline lWith the shaft 7,

Iand a gear61f. is splined on Athis shaft. The

gear 61 is adapted to mesh Withithe idler gear 59,v and it is also provided with internal ygear teeth 62 adapted to lit into and engage the teeth of ythe gear 55. `Inthe" drawing kthe gear? 61 is shown inv its intermediate or neutr'al position. An operating handle GSxand -aslijding yoke 64 arel provided forfmoving ,the gear 61 either' into engagement with the `gear 55gor fintof mesh With-the gear 59. It

`will be clear' thatfkjin `the former position thewdrive vis rdirect,fandI ythat -inf the latter 1.1111: a' vhydraulicclutch, the; combination ofv driving and driven members rotatable about ra common axis, a' plunger mechanism ycoinprisiiiga cylinder having a-b'ore 'of deliniteydiameterfandf-a piston#therein,` ,said

kcylinder ofthe plunger mechanism.A

2. VIn a hydraulic clutch, the combination of driving and driven members rotatable about a common aXis,"a 'pli'iralit'y of opposed plunger mechanisms veach" comprising a cylinder having a bore of definite diameter and a piston' therein said plunger mecha# y iiism having aiieccentric longitudinal pivotal connection at one end Vwith one ofthe members, anl eccentric connected" Withftlie other member, an eccentric ring surrounding the eccentric, a plurality vhof longitudinal pivot pins directly carried bythe Veccentric ring andr respectivelyengaging the other ends of the plunger mechanisms', a portl in equal to that of the cylinder boreand valves `having areas substantiz'ill'y-e'qual to those of said ports for controlling the 'l'loiv` of"liquid into and out ofthe cylinders fthe'plunger mechanisms. y l

3. In a hydraulic clutch, the combination of driving and driven membersy :rotatable about a jcommon VaXis,-a plunger mechanism veach cylinder having'an areasubstantially comprisingv a cylinder and piston and having f l an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection at one end with oneof the members, an eccentric connected with theother member,

anV eccentric yringy -surroundingfthe eccen'- tric, a longitudinal pivot pin directly carried by the eccentric ring and engagingfthe other end ofthe plunger mechanism, 4a circular guide. on the -kirst said membersand ing the :said pin during-relative movement between the two members, yand a valvecontrolling theflow of liquid into and out of the cylinder of lthe :plunger mechanism.

4. In a hydraulic-clutch, the combination of driving and driven members rotatable mechanisms each compi'isingja cylinder and .piston and having an eccentric longitudinal pivotalco'nnection at one end'ivith one of the members', an eccentric connected with the fother member, an eccentric ring surrounding the eccentric, a pluralitygof longitudinal, pivot pins directly carried by the eccentric ring 4and'respectively, engaging the yother ends of the plunger mechanisms, Acir- ,cularfguides on the vfirst said member, each guide encircling 'one lofsa'id pins fora continuously vsupporting the saidpins vlduring encircling's'aid pin for continuouslyI support about a common axis, a plurality of plungerv v io relative movement between the tvvo members, and valves controlling the `lovv of liquid into and out of the cylinders of the plunger mechanisms.

y 5. In a hydraulic clutch, the combination of driving and driven members rotatable about a common axis, a plunger mechanism comprising a cylinder and piston and having an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection at one end With one of the members,` an eccentric connected with the other member, ,an eccentric ring surrounding the eccentric, a longitudinal pivot pin directly carried by the eccentric ring and engaging the other end of the plunger mechanism, a

vroller on the pin, a circular guide on .the

first sai-d member and encircling said roller being continuously in engagement with the roller for supporting the pin during relative movement between the two members, and a valve controlling the flovv of liquid into and out yof the cylinder ,of the plunger mechanism.

.6. In a hydraulic clutch, the combination of driving and .driven members rotatable about al common axis, a plunger mechanism comprising a cylinder and piston and having'an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection at one end with one of the members, an eccentric connected With the other member, an eccentric'ring surrounding the eccentric, a longitudinal pivot pin directly carried by the eccentric ring and engaging the .other end of the plunger mechanism, tivo rollers ,on the pin at opposite sides of the lplunger mechanism, tivo circular guides on the ltiret saidvmember continuously in engagement Lwith lthe respective rollers for supporting the pin ,during relative movement ,between the `tivo members, and .a valve controlling -the flow ,of liquid into and lout of the cylinder ot the plunger mechanism.

7. In a hydraulic clutch, the combination of driving and driven members rotatable about .a common axis, a plunger mechanism comprising a cylinder and piston and having an .eccentric longitudinal pivotal conncction at one end `with .one of the inembers, means .operatively connected with the otheriniember and havingan eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection With the other v'end of the plunger mechanism, a `casing enclosing t-lie said plunger mechanism and .adapted Vto contain a liquid, a longitudinally movable .manually adJustable cylindrical 4valve for controlling the loyv of :liquid -from the casing into the cylinder of the plunger mechanism and from the cylinder into the casing, Iand an vautomatic 'check vvalve located inside of the cylindrical valve.

8. 'In a hydraulic clutch, the combination et driving' and driven members rotatable about a common axis, a plunger mechanism comprising a cylinder and piston and hav- :ing an eccentric longitudinalV pivotal connection at one end with one of the members, means operatively connected .with the other member and having an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection .with the other end of the plunger mechanism, a casing venclosing .the said plunger mechanism and adapted to contain a liquid, a longitudinally movable manually adjustable cylindrical valve for controlling the flow of liquid rpm :the casing in to the cylinder of the plunger mechanism and from the cylinder into; the casing, an automatic check valve located inside Lot the cylindrical valve for also controlling the said flovv, and means operable While the members are rotating for adjusting the first said valve. f' i 9. In a. hydraulic clutch, the ycombination of driving and driven members rotatable about a common axis, a plunger mechanism comprisinga cylinder and piston and having an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection at one end With one ofthe members, means operatively connected with the other member and having an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection Wit-li the other rend of the plunger mechanism, a casing enc-losing the said plunger mechanism and adapted to ,contain a liquid, an automatic check valve ,for controlling the iiovv of liquid from the ,casing` into the cylinder of `the plunger mechanism and from the `cylinder in to the Casing, and a second'manually adjustable .valve for valso contro-lling the said flovv, means manually operable'vvhile the .members are rotating for opening the last said valve,

spring means releasable @by the manually v,op-

erable means and operable ndependentl for closing the last said valve.

, l0. In a hydraulic clutch, .thecombination of driving and. driven members k.rotatable f about a common axis, a plunger mechanism comprising a cylinder and piston andhav.- ling an eccentric longitudinal .pivotal Y.connection at one end .With -one of .tli.ef.mem bers, means operatively' yconnected With the other member' and having an eccentric longitudinal Apivotal connection With the .other end of the plunger mechanism, .a casing enclosing .the saidi plunger ,mechanism and adapted ,to contain aliquid, an automatic check valve for controlling theloiv of liquid from kthe Vcasing into the cyzlinderofj' the Yplunger `mechanism and from the cylinder 'into the casing, a second manually "a'djustable valve or'also controlling' the said ffioiv, means manually operable While theA in embers are rotating .for opening the last said valve, spring means releasable `bythe` inanually operable means and operable independently for closing the'last said valve, land f a dash-pot for:regu-1ating the action fof- "the spring. f Yl-lj'Ina hydraulic clutch, the combination of driving and driven members rotatable about a common axis, a plunger mechanism comprising a cylinder and piston and having an eccentric longitudinal pivotal-v connection at one end With one of the members, means operatively connected vWith the other member and having .an eccentric longitudinal pivotal connection With theother" 10 check valve for controlling the flow of liquid from the casing. into the cylinder of the plunger mechanism and from the cylinder into the casing, a second manually adjustable valve for also controlling the said flow, and an automatic valve carried by the piston and discharging through the outer end thereof for relieving excess pressure in the cylinder'.`

ALBERT H. MANWARING. 

